Mindfulness Yoga Brings Peace to South Africa's Prisons

We often forget that prisons do not exist simply to punish, but also to reform and rehabilitate. And as such, we can all do our part in helping inmates find peace within themselves to let go of hatred and violence if they are to be given the chance to reintegrate into society.

Capetown-based SevaUnite is one of the volunteer organizations in the world that aim to help inmates find peace and fight depression and aggressiveness. How? By introducing yoga at correctional facilities in South Africa, including Pollsmoor, one of the country's most notorious prisons.

In an article by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism, they shared how yoga and mindfulness are effective in promoting overall well-being and helping inmates stay calm in a typically hostile environment.

How Does It Work?

Credit: Lee-Ann Olwage/Bhekisisa

SevaUnite’s founder and director, Brian Bergman, explains that while they also teach yoga (asana) classes, the main idea and intention is to teach yoga through a correspondence course. “Inmates complete six modules a year. Every time they write a module, our teachers provide written feedback and at the end, they have to teach three inmates the course they’ve just done.”

South Africa's Department of Correctional Services spokesperson, Manelisi Wolela, said they've been supporting the program for six years as part of an integrated and holistic approach to mental health.

“Most offenders taking yoga classes have attested that the programme provides them with the opportunity to learn to accept themselves the way they are, to deal with stressful situations in a calm manner and to avoid negative thinking. Many of them are now less aggressive and have seen improvements in their health and well-being.”

Prison Yoga Programs Around the World

SevaUnite's Brian Bergman said he was inspired to start the prison yoga program in South Africa after seeing a similar program in India. Australia, New Zealand, and the UK also have yoga and mindfulness programs in prisons as a form of therapy.

Raeez Safar is one of over 250 inmates who now regularly practices mindfulness yoga in South Africa's maximum security Pollsmoor prison. He says, "Yoga makes me feel positive about life. It has helped me to deal with the stress of prison life."

If yoga and mindfulness can help more prisoners find this sense of peace and positivity within the walls of their physical and mental prisons, then we can only hope that these kinds of programs become the norm for prisons all over the world.

Image credit: Lee-Ann Olwage/Bhekisisa

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